Two Facebook executives resign, one bound for Alibaba

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2013-09-20

Facebook's logo on an electronic display in New York. (Photo/Xinhua)

Social media giant Facebook is loosing two of its key employees, product manager Justin Shaffer and communication manager Ashley Zandy — with one of them reportedly grabbing an opportunity with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

Shaffer, who joined Facebook in 2010 when the company acquired his startup Hot Potato, has helped lead several past projects, including Facebook Group and Facebook Places.

A company source said Shaffer is considering setting up a new venture capital fund.

Zandy was with Facebook for more than two years and is reportedly leaving to become the associate director of international corporate affairs for Alibaba. She will remain in Silicon Valley and supervise all corporate and financial communications outside of China.

Despite the high-profile departures, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company will continue to spend aggressively on infrastructure and headcount this year.